After respiratory problems and heart failure led to hospitalization, longtime veteran actor and delightful embodiment of wickedness, Christopher Lee died at age 93 June 7, according to The Guardian.

The veteran actor, immortalised in films from Dracula to The Wicker Man, and via James Bond villainy to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, died at 8.30am on Sunday morning at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London.

His wife, the former Danish model Birgit Kroencke, decided to hold back the information for four days until all family members and friends were informed. The couple had been married for more than 50 years and had one daughter, Christina.

The actor was knighted in 2009 for services to drama and charity, and was awarded the Bafta fellowship in 2011.

Even though he began his acting career 68 years ago, he continued delivering fantastic work well on into old age. His brought the dastardly wizard Saruman to striking life in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings movies and appeared as Count Dooku in the Star Wars prequels.

For many, though, he will always be the face of Dracula, which he played through the 1950s, 60s and 70s with the British film production company Hammer.